Cisco Announces High Performance SSL VPN Solution

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Cisco Systems, Inc. announced the WebVPN Service Module designed to provide both enterprise and service provider customers with remote SSL Virtual Private Network (VPN) capabilities from any web browser.

This new addition to the switch-based security service module family brings customers industry-leading SSL VPN scalability and virtualization to provide flexible network segmentation and network device consolidation. The WebVPN Services Module also supports the Cisco Secure Desktop (CSD) which offers pre-connection security posture assessment and a consistent and highly reliable means of eliminating all traces of sensitive data.

The WebVPN Services Module scales to support up to 8,000 concurrent SSL VPN remote access users per module and up to 32,000 users per chassis. Advanced virtualization capabilities on the WebVPN Services Module enable a physical module to act as multiple, logical SSL VPN gateways with each having its own policy and management support. This provides network segmentation of remote access based on user, location or application type with lowered capital and operational expenditure. The virtualization support coupled with integration offers an enterprise customer the ability to segment resource access from remote users and map this access requirement to an internal security zone, based on business units or user groups. Service provider customers are able to create new revenue streams, and provide cost-effective shared SSL VPN services using virtualization to separate traffic by customer.

Seamless Application Access and Integrity With WebVPN Services Module
The WebVPN Services Module will include support for the Cisco Secure Desktop (announced in Feb. 2005) which helps address SSL VPN endpoint security by providing pre-connection security state or "posture" assessment of the connecting device. Security during the session is then assessed by creating a secure virtual desktop that protects sensitive data, and then conducts a post-connection clean-up that eliminates all traces of sensitive session information.

This solution also provides highly flexible and customizable application access for many types of SSL VPN deployment scenarios including: clientless support for access to web-based and Citrix applications; thin client support for access to web, email, calendar and Instant Messenger (IM) applications; and SSL VPN client support for broad applications access.

Pricing and Availability
The Cisco WebVPN module is scheduled to be available in July starting $35,000 USD for 2500 concurrent users. The WebVPN Services Module can be upgraded with software licenses for additional users. WebVPN service module support for the Cisco Secure Desktop and clientless Citrix support is scheduled to be available in Q3 CY '05.